DVD Releases: January 6th, 2009

Babylon A.D.: This one is going on the rent list. I want to see it but have concerns, read Exploring: Babylon A.D. for more. The movie is about Toorop a mercenary in the future who takes the job of escorting a woman from Eastern Europe to New York. While he thinks this is just an ordinary mission, he gradually finds out that his guest is carrying an organism that has the potential to become the next Messiah — and everybody wants to get their hands on it. Theater or Renter: August 2008.

Doctor Who: War Machines (Episode 27): Last of the William Hartnell years. The Doctor poses as a scientist in 1966 London to ferret out the source of evil and stumbles on the thinking computer WOTAN. Though poised to be linked with computers around the world to create an advanced computer network, WOTAN has its own plans: namely, to create a robot army to take over the world.

Doctor Who: Four to Doomsday (Episode 118): From the Peter Davison years. The good doctor and a trio of companions aboard a spaceship headed for Earth in the company of an ethnically diverse android crew and the frog-like alien Urbankans. With the Urbankan leader set on poisoning the planet's inhabitants so that he can repopulate it with his androids, it's up to the Doctor to find a way to avert disaster.

Duckman: Seasons Three and Four: This show is vulgar and funny, not for the light of heart or easily offend able. The animated show is about a private detective Duckman who returns for more comic misadventures with his partner, Cornfed. Duckman lands himself in the nuthouse, starts a revolution in a third-world country, adopts rap star Coolio and buys a mail-order bride. Definitely worth seeing.

Vampire Fans

I haven't had a chance to sink my teeth into these yet. If you have seen them let me know: owner, renter, or don’t waste my time?

Kiss of the Vampire: Sick of teleporting to the next town after leaving a trail of blood-drained bodies in his wake, vampire Alex Stone and his clan decide to stay awhile in sleepy Hamilton, Ohio, after he falls hard for one of the local lovelies But while Alex wants nothing more than to leave immortality behind, there are those in town who will do almost anything to gain what he's intent on giving up in this horror love story

Netherbeast Incorporated: In this satire of corporate America, it's business as usual at the vampire-owned and -operated Netherbeast Inc. -- one of the world's largest phone makers -- until the boss contracts vampire Alzheimer's and starts hiring humans. Bodies soon begin to pile up in this office comedy based on the award-winning short The Netherbeast of Berm-Tech Industries, Inc. Darrell Hammond, Judd Nelson, Dave Foley, Jason Mewes and Robert Wagner co-star.

Dollhouse: Season One: This is a great show, Joss Whedon does it again. It received mixed view based on the first few episodes which are not the best but that is due to Fox forcing rewrites and re-shoots on Joss' vision. The fans have lovingly come to refer to those episodes as Fox's Dollhouse and the rest of the show as Joss' Dollhouse. After about episode five this show really opens up and develops. This set includes the original pilot episode plus the episode Epitaph One. A must own!

Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead: a special episode of David Tennant Doctor Who when the Doctor and his fellow passengers are mysteriously transported through a wormhole to a planet inhabited by an endangered anthropomorphic species. It's on the top of my Netflix que if not an owner unseen.

Torchwood: Children of Earth: I love this series, this is a five episode mini-series picking up for season three of Torchwood. It's on the top of my Netflix que if not an owner unseen.

Knight Rider: This was a light, fun show with fast changing cars and action. It started with some promise of having substance with gay characters and interesting subplots it just unfortunately suffered from too much studio tampering and test audience death and lost it's substance. Watch it here on Hulu.

Green Lantern: First Flight: another DC Comics animated project bringing us the Hal Jordan Green Lantern. It's on the top of my Net Flix que and almost an owner unwatched because of how good the past animated DC projects are.

Dragonball: Evolution: a fun Dragonball movie, a lot of reviews trashed this movie but they missed the point and that is Dragonball is a niche film and made for fans of Dragonball. If your not sure about the Dragonball series then it should be a renter, for fans an owner.

Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5: The conclusion of season four and the Battlestar Galactica show. I really liked how this show grew into it's own and tackled some interesting topics. I wished it had been bolder with some of the social and philosophical topics addressed. My issue with this product is it's an overpriced 1/2 of a season set.

DVD Releases: April 14th, 2009

My Best Friend's a Vampire: This movie is a must own for any vampire fans and fans of 80’s cinema. I wore out two VHS copies and now am thankful I can have it on DVD. Now for the even better news it’s streaming on Netflix for those of you who have not watched this movie

Afro Samurai: Resurrection: The second season is out for this action-packed animated series. I’m very curious to try this out and have heard great things about the series. Samuel L. Jackson returns as the voice of the tortured titular character who learns that the body of his father has been stolen from its grave. Afro and his sidekick, Ninja Ninja (also voiced by Jackson), set off a bloody trek through futuristic Japan to exact revenge. Inspired by the work of manga artist Takashi Okazaki.

Death Note Movie II: The Last Name: The second live action movie based on the anime series which is based on the manga. For more on the anime series and to watch it streaming online read: Death Note: Streaming Online Anime. For more on the manga read: Review: Death Note. In this live-action sequel to Death Note, the battle of wits between enigmatic detective "L" (Ken'ichi Matsuyama) and teenage vigilante Light (Tatsuya Fujiwara) escalates as Light infiltrates L's inner circle of investigators to divert suspicion away from himself. Meanwhile, popular television host Misa (Erika Toda) finds a second Death Note notebook and uses it to become Light's deadly disciple.

Kiss: Resurrection: This was a really good concert and worth checking out as a renter. After ditching their makeup and costumes in the 1980s, rock band Kiss reformed in '96 with their classic look and style. Through this documentary's behind-the-scenes footage and candid interviews, explore this exciting period in the band's history. All four of the original members, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, return for this amazing reunion and show the world they still rock.

Tales from the Darkside: The First Season: This series was a pseudo knock off of Tales from the Crypt, that said this was an entertaining series and fun to watch. I would highly recommend renting it. A macabre anthology series features adapted stories by Stephen King, Clive Barker and other horror writers with eerie tales about a levitating boy, an endlessly ringing phone, an undead grandpa, a vengeful genie and a bookie whose life depends on a bet populate.

Friday the 13th - The Series - Season Two: This is a great show really enjoyed watching it and recommend renting it. A supernatural mystery series where Johnny Ventura teams with Micki and Ryan in their endless quest to track down the cursed relics of Lewis Andredi, who forged an unholy alliance with Satan. Joined by ex-magician Jack Marshak, the gang pursues -- among other things -- a voodoo mask, John Wilkes Booth's makeup case, vampire bees and a hexed camera.

Dragon Ball Z: Season Eight (Babidi & Majin Buu Sagas): This is a crazy series that grows on you, for fans they already know this one is an owner, for non fans do yourself a favor and start at the beginning, rent it wait a while and you too will get sucked into this series. Dragon Ball Z is great fun with copious amounts of super smashing action and humor. This season contains the Babidi and Majin Buu sagas… lol like any one can “contain” Majin Buu. Supreme Kai comes to Earth to help the Z fighters thwart villainous Babidi's evil plan to revive the monstrous Buu. As the epic battle unfolds, Goku, Gohan and the others must face the underworld ruler Dabura, and Vegeta makes the ultimate sacrifice to break free of Babidi's mind-controlling influence.

Against the Dark: This movie sounds so craptastic that if I were sitting on the couch flipping channels I would have to stop and watch this suspected train wreck of a movie… Let me set the stage bloodthirsty vampires wreaking havoc and our only savior Steven Seagal… ROFL. On a slightly more serious side if you have seen this let me know how it was.

Exploring: Babylon A.D.

I'm kind of excited about Babylon A.D.. I expect it to be an action film like the other Vin Diesel actions films. I have concerns about the look and the story. Originally this was going to be a theater but after reading how upset the director was I'm not so sure. The director explains how Fox took out any deeper meaning that the film was supposed to have leaving it an empty set of action sequences. I'm all for watching action films. I love seeing things go boom but I remember and get more out of an action film that has some deeper meaning behind it. Generally for me if an action film has nothing else to it even if it is really pretty and exciting it becomes throwaway media and a waste of time. It would look better in the theater so I'm still leaning in that direction.

The Plot / Story: In the near future, Toorop is a mercenary who takes the job of escorting a woman from Eastern Europe to New York. While he thinks this is just an ordinary mission, he gradually finds out that his guest is carrying an organism that has the potential to become the next Messiah — and everybody wants to get their hands on it. (The Official Site)

Theater or Renter: August 2008

It's time once again for our favorite game "Theater Or Renter?"
Rules of the Game: Watch the trailers. Rate the Trailer. Then Put in your comments below the trailer: does the trailer and buzz make you want to watch it in the theater, rent it, or not interested at all, and why?

The ruthless Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) and his 10,000 warriors are double crossed by a sorceress (Michelle Yeoh). Trapped in suspended animation and forgotten for eons until Alex O’Connell (Luke Ford) gets tricked into awakening them. Alex then turns to the only people who knows a lot about stopping the undead: his father Rick O’Connell’s (Brendan Fraser), mother Evelyn (Maria Bello) and Evelyn’s brother Jonathan (John Hannah).

Rick must combat the resurrected Han Emperor to stop his quest for world domination. As they engage in a race from the catacombs of ancient china into the frigid Himalayas. (The Official Site)

The Plot / Story: Swing Vote is the story of Bud Johnson average guy who through a voting machine fault and a dead tie election becomes the guy who gets to decide who the next president will be and his mad capped adventures while he gets wooed by both candidates. (The Official Site)

The Plot / Story: The Clone Wars is set in the time frame between Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. As the war rages on between Confederacy of Independent Systems and the Galactic Republic Jabba the Hutt's son is taken by a group of renegades. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi depart in search of answers: where is the Hutt's son, and who is controlling this mysterious renegade group? Yoda also sends Ahsoka Tano along as Anakin's apprentice. (The Official Site)

The Plot / Story: Ben Carson is the head of security at a department store plagued by unexplained deaths. In addition to issues concerning the deaths, the store is also the target of demonstrators who seek compensation for a tragic fire that killed the staff. Ben eventually becomes intrigued by a disturbed woman who claims she is his sister who died in the fire. The woman is exacting revenge, using mirrors as a gateway back into the living world. (The Official Site)

The Plot / Story: In a future America, prison inmates are forced to compete against each other in a driving arena. The prison warden coerces a prisoner with only weeks before his release into becoming a driver. The prisoner becomes a crowd favorite known as Frankenstein. (The Official Site)

The Plot / Story: A group of people, during one fateful night as they try to make their way to safety while every known natural disaster and catastrophic event hits the city and their path as they try to solve a series of mysteries to end the rampant destruction. (The Official Site)

The Plot / Story: In the near future, Toorop is a mercenary who takes the job of escorting a woman from Eastern Europe to New York. While he thinks this is just an ordinary mission, he gradually finds out that his guest is carrying an organism that has the potential to become the next Messiah — and everybody wants to get their hands on it. (The Official Site)